Boulder developer proposes mixed-use addition for downtown property

Planning Board to also discuss project at 30th and Pearl

A local property owner has plans to add a third floor and construct a three-level addition to the downtown Boulder property that houses Frasca Food & Wine.

J Nold Midyette's Pearl Street Mall Properties submitted a site review to the city of Boulder to add a third floor to the existing building at 1738 Pearl St. and redevelop the neighboring parking lot to erect a three-story addition to the property off 18th and Pearl streets. The development would result in an addition of 17,245 square feet of floor area to the existing building of 24,755 square feet, according to city planning documents.

Sixteen parking spaces would be situated toward the rear of the building and near the alley, according to the plans.

The proposed project would bring additional office, retail and restaurant space to the east end of Pearl, and it comes just months after Midyette received approval to put a third floor on 1600 Pearl St.

Boulder Brands Inc., which makes Smart Balance spreads, leased the new office space at 1600 Pearl prior to its completion.

"(Developers) are moving forward in direct correlation to demand from the marketplace," said Sean Maher, executive director of Downtown Boulder Inc., an organization that serves and promotes downtown businesses. "There was a tremendous amount of interest in office space.

"1600 Pearl leased long before it was finished."

Midyette could not be reached for comment.

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The addition planned for the parking lot is an allowed by-right development, since the building would be 38 feet tall. The third story and setback proposed to the existing building required a site review application, said Elaine McLaughlin, a city of Boulder planner.

City planning staff reviewed the site review proposal and recommended that the development move forward, but the Boulder Planning Board will have a say in the project's fate at this Thursday's meeting. At least one member of the Planning Board on Oct. 17 requested a call-up of the 1738 Pearl project, according to city documents.

At that time, the Planning Board could choose to review all aspects of the project -- including the by-right development, McLaughlin said.

"It's all up for grabs," she said.

Also on the Planning Board's docket this week is a concept plan for Pearl Place, a mixed-use development proposed for the southwest corner of 30th and Pearl streets.

Earlier this year, Pearl Place Associates, an entity backed by Forum Real Estate and Brickstone Partners, snapped up the Aspen Plaza, 2095 30th St.; Landmark Center, 2111 30th St.; and the HB Woodsongs building at 2920 Pearl St. for more than $11 million.

The Denver-based entity is proposing to raze the existing buildings and then develop three new buildings comprised of a 120-room hotel, 6,000 square feet of retail space, 202,500 square feet of office space and 38,000 square feet of open space -- including a terraced amphitheater -- on the 4.29-acre property.

The initial architectural concept for the project includes 55-foot, four-story modern buildings with flat roofs, according to plans filed with the city.

As Pearl Place is still in the concept plan stage, the Planning Board is scheduled to discuss the proposal and not required to take any actions.

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